Wednesday: The Witness of Thomas
Daily Lesson for Wednesday 13th of November 2024
Read John 20:19-31. What can we learn from the story of Thomas about faith and doubt? What major mistake did Thomas make?
Christ appeared to the disciples after His resurrection, when they were shut up together in a room because of fear. Thomas was not with them. Later, he heard the reports of the Resurrection from the other disciples, but he despaired. It did not fit his picture of the kingdom. And, too, he surely must have wondered why Jesus would have revealed Himself to the others when he himself was not there.
Image © Lifeway Collection at Goodsalt.com
Thomas said, “ ‘Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe’ ” (John 20:25, NKJV).
Thomas was dictating the conditions of his faith. This approach to faith in Jesus has appeared again and again in John. Nicodemus answered Jesus with, “ ‘How can a man be born when he is old?’ ” (John 3:4, NKJV). The woman at the well asked, “ ‘Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water?’ ” (John 4:11, NRSV). The crowd who had been fed with the loaves and fishes asked, “ ‘What sign are you going to give us?’ ” (John 6:30, NRSV).
It is this “see and then believe” perspective that the Gospel of John counters. When Jesus met Thomas after the Resurrection, He invited him to come, see, and touch His risen body. But then He says, “ ‘Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed’ ” (John 20:29, ESV).
“God never asks us to believe, without giving sufficient evidence upon which to base our faith. His existence, His character, the truthfulness of His word, are all established by testimony that appeals to our reason; and this testimony is abundant. Yet God has never removed the possibility of doubt. Our faith must rest upon evidence, not demonstration.”—Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ, p. 105.
Through the Word of God, through the Creation, and through personal experience, we have been given an incredible amount of evidence for our faith in Jesus.
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If someone were to ask you Why do you believe in Jesus? what would you say? |
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I was about 12 years old when I first asked the question, "How can you prove that God exists?" I got many answers that, to my 12-year-old mind, did not make much sense. Most of the answers implied that if you start asking questions like that, you will end up outside the church and therefore unsaved. So, my mindset was definitely in the cast of Thomas from an early age. It took me quite a while to figure out that there was nothing wrong with the question but providing threatening responses were not the answer. And as I grew older and studied more I learned that proving the supernatural was not in the same set as a geometric proof and that induction and deduction and Boolean maths were of little help either.
Thomas became convinced after a direct encounter with Jesus. He saw with his own eyes and felt with his hands, and consequently believed. While we cannot physically examine the evidence as Thomas did, we, through the working of the Holy Spirit see Jesus in others around us. There is a very good reason why the Bible establishes the two great laws:
It is the connection between those two laws which enables us to see God. I posit that the reason many people doubt God is because folk who wear the label "Christian" think they can get away with obeying the first law and be picky about to whom they apply the second law. It does not work that way. True love for God comes with love for others. They are glued together and hip and thigh.
I still have moments of doubt. A miracle does not happen, time passes without revelation, good people lose their faith, new scientific discoveries challenge my thinking, but my faith is a relationship that goes beyond events. It is not a mathematical formula with axioms and logical operators/
Maurice – thank you for being candid; it is refreshing! When reading your comment some thoughts came to mind. May I ask you to consider for a moment where our ability to love God and our fellow man comes from or what generates it.
You say: “There is a very good reason why the Bible establishes the two great laws."
You also state: “It is the connection between those two laws which enables us to see God.”
Then you comment that ‘some folk who wear the label “Christian” think they can get away with obeying the first law and be picky about to whom they apply the second law.
I agree wholeheartedly that 'loving God and our fellow man' is at the very center of our life. May I posit that Jesus answered the question of ‘a lawyer trying to tempt Him by entrapping Him when asking: ‘Master, which is the greatest commandment in the law? Jesus' answer referenced the spirit of the law which the lawyer missed as he looked for a violation of the letter of the law - Matt.22:36-40.
Considering that 'loving God and one’s fellow man' can be prompted by the letter of the law or its spirit, which do we prefer? Now, the Spirit of the law, God's presence, works within the heart and mind of man to prompt us to love Him and our fellow man.
I do not think that you would consider it better to love God and man based on being ‘commandmend’ by the legal aspect of the law. God has set us free from the guilt associated with the law in order for us to love Him freely with all our heart; which, in turn, results in loving our fellow man. Because of Jesus Christ, when in His presence, our status has changed from flesh to spirit as we worship Him in Spirit and Truth.
I've always been a very tactile-oriented and sensory-dominant person. I was that little kid who carried her fading, knobby blue blanket everywhere. Such a comfort! So I feel a sympathy for Thomas. He probably was a kinesthetic learner.... a doer, hands-on, maybe a builder.
Jesus was a pretty active man also, it seems. He didn't stay in one place long during those 3 1/2 years of ministry, and He lived His first 30 years as a carpenter. Many of His healing miracles were delivered through touch...He even sensed in a crowd when the woman who brushed His hem was healed. So Jesus well understands being physically intuitive. And yet He gently corrected Thomas and encouraged all of us to believe by faith in the Word, we who will never in our lifetimes put our fingers in His scars either.
Why is it important for faith to be without sight (2 Cor. 5:7)? I think one reason is because sight is not actually required to germinate or build faith. We think it is. But as Jesus said in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:27-31 [commentary mine]:
If we have trouble believing something that to us seems improbable, our eyesight doesn't make it any more probable. Would seeing Jesus as a man actually help us to believe as we think it might? I'm sure seeing Jesus as a man would have brought it's own challenges to belief. Would God look like this? Would God be born to those parents in that town? Would God act like this? Would God have these friends? Would God talk like this? Would God suffer and die like this? Can you imagine your thoughts and questions, being there then?!
God knows what's best. Always. He knew Thomas and the others needed to go before us to give us their testimony. He knows we need to be alive right now..."for such a time as this"...to share our faith with others. Thank You, our loving God, for providing us all the evidence we need to trust You. Give us spiritual eyes of faith to see You and to surrender ourselves - and our doubts - to You completely.
Thank you I learn.
In the narrative of Thomas, we see a complex interplay between evidence and faith. While Thomas initially demanded physical proof, his ultimate belief was rooted in a deeper spiritual encounter.
Evidence can provide the initial spark that ignites faith. Seeing the empty tomb or hearing testimonies of others can create a sense of curiosity and wonder. It can also challenge preconceived notions and open minds to the possibility of divine revelation.
Once faith has taken root, evidence can serve to confirm and strengthen it. Experiencing answered prayers, witnessing miracles, or feeling the presence of the Holy Spirit can solidify one's belief.
This confirmation can provide comfort, reassurance, and a deeper sense of connection with God.
When doubts arise, evidence can help to dispel them. Studying the Bible, attending church services, or engaging in spiritual practices can provide intellectual and emotional support. It can also help to reframe doubts as opportunities for deeper understanding and growth.
Evidence can be used to share one's faith with others. By offering logical arguments, personal testimonies, and biblical references, Christians can invite others to consider the claims of Christ which can lead to meaningful conversations and opportunities for spiritual growth.
However, it's important to remember that faith is not solely based on evidence. It also involves trust, hope, and a willingness to embrace the unknown. As the Apostle Paul wrote, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1).
Ultimately, the role of evidence in strengthening Christian faith is to support and complement, not to replace, the spiritual dimension of belief.
Jesus transformed me completely. If it weren't for Him, I would not be alive! God rescued me from myself through His Son, and I hope He continues to do that!
‘Was Thomas wrong to make this statement? Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe’ ” (John 20:25).
Do we have a physical based evidence or do we have faith based evidence of God. I believe we have both.
Lets start with the existence of the universe and its intricate design, as described in Psalm 19:1-6 and Romans 1:18-20, I take as evidence of God’s existence. Creation serves as a basis for God-consciousness and human responsibility, highlighting our dependence on God and our accountability to Him.
Yet without faith in the unseen, how do I have
evidence of the existence of God? For instance I have an admiration of Metallic wood boring 🪲 beetles starting in entomology class and progressing with an anatomy teacher who had the same, and then admiration of green backed wood boring beetles falling from the branches of our pine tree onto the deck of our pool.
Now how I would see the evidence of the existence of God in wood boring beetles? Let me tell you.
I read Hebrews 11:1-3 and find that faith in the unseen allows me to see the evidence of God's existence in the wood boring beetles, as evidence of Our God who I can trust as my Confident, Redeemer, Saviour, Protector, Restorer, Creator, and simply talk to as a friend.
Buprestidae is a family of beetles known as jewel beetles or metallic wood-boring beetles because of their glossy iridescent
colors.
I bet you did not know we have a Priest in the Jewel beetles. Bu-Priest-Idae. Sure helps me believe in God. Hebrews 3:1. 😃
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buprestidae
For further resources I recommend The Evidence.
https://www.hopechannel.nz/show/the-evidence/
Thomas believed in Jesus he had a hard time believing in the resurrection. Sometimes our faith will go so far and no further but God....
I am someone with a questioning mind who demands evidence to support my conclusions. While creation offers evidence that there must be a God, it does not reveal who that God is or describe His character. This is why the Word of God is crucial in filling the gaps that creation leaves about God. Finally, my personal experience provides the missing link regarding God's existence and character—something no one can dispute. It is what seals the deal for me.
In our finite mind and carnal nature we are incapable of understanding God without a revelation from the Holy Spirit. However, the more the Spirit reveals Christ to us, the more we realize how distant we are from God, and this drives us to beg the Spirit for more and more revelation of God. Doubt comes in when we try to explain God from a human perspective. Doubt is not only saying that we don't believe in Christ, it is also disbelief in his power. Jesus promises us power to perform miracles but it is hard for some of us to accept and believe that we could do the same things that Jesus did, even though we read it in the bible. In response, we come up with all kinds of excuses and explanations. Now, if we don't see miracles being performed by people who claim to be Christ's followers, shouldn't we not ask ourselves the question, why is this so?
Why am I unable to do the things that Jesus promises that he would give me power to do? My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will show me what I should do, and lead me into parts of righteousness for his name sake. Holy Spirit, "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah, pilgrim through this barren land. I am weak, but thou art mighty; hold me with thy powerful hand. Bread of heaven, bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more; feed me till I want no more."
From another Thomas!
I like that it doesn't say anywhere that the other disciples told Jesus that Thomas told them that unless he saw Jesus' hands and feet, he would believe. Jesus knew Thomas' thoughts and gave Thomas the opportunity to grow his faith as soon as He saw Thomas the following week. I can imagine that this strengthened the other disciples to witness Thomas' confession and praise.
My prayer today is "Dear Lord, I realize that you know my thoughts. May my thoughts be pure, unselfish, kind and holy like Your thoughts are. Thank you that Your Holy Spirit speaks to me, (knows my thoughts), convicting me of my sin so I can repent and be washed in Your blood. Amen
Amen, blessings brothers and sisters
I am not sure how to understand Ellen White’s counsel that “Our Faith must rest upon evidence, not demonstration.” What is considered ‘evidence’ by one is considered ‘demonstration’ by the other; are they not interchangeable?
The disciples saw the wounds in Jesus' body and believed; it was He volunteering to show his wounds to them. Thomas was shown the wounds but wanted to also touch them. Can both not be considered ‘evidence’ as well as 'demonstration'? John 20:29.
In my opinion, it is possible to see ‘evidence’ and still not believe. Thousands of people saw the 'evidence' demonstrated by Jesus' works, but only a few believed. Christianity provides ‘evidence’ that living according to the Word of God changes lives for the better. But how many come to Him in order for Him to change their life? The destitute will come; will the rich man come also?
Not everyone observing 'evidence' believes Jesus to be the Son of God. But being convicted of this as 'fact' makes the difference between being an 'observer' and a 'participant' of the Faith of Christ. Experiencing/seeing the 'evidence' plus believing Jesus to be the Son of God elevates His status to the realm of worship; not everyone wants to go there.
But this is exactly where one needs to be in order to make the ‘evidence’ effectual in one’s life. Believing is just the beginning to overcoming one’s resistance to ‘giving up’ control of one’s way of thinking and reasoning. This is the big hurdle so many who meet Jesus through 'evidence' or 'demonstration' are unwilling to jump over.
Only the Holy Spirit convicts man to see Jesus Christ as the Son of God; though one is still free not to follow Him. Only when humbling our 'self' can we accept Him as our Lord and Savior. Thomas and his fellow disciples saw the 'evidence' as Jesus 'demonstrated' that it was truly He that stood in their midst. But it was the Holy Spirit's work to convict them that it was the factual Truth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
I feel we shouldn't be too hard on Thomas. After all, the other disciples struggled to believe. The fact that they were trembling in a room when they had heard from the women and angels that Jesus had risen shows that their faith was not especially strong. If it had been another disciple absent, would he have fared much better?
However, Thomas' story is crucial because the vast majority of John's readers had not seen Jesus. Probably most had not even seen a disciple of Jesus. They and we have to believe without sight. And Jesus used Thomas' situation to teach us about that.